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Abandoned dog's 3-year wait for owners ends with new home
The dog it seemed nobody wanted was flown hundreds of miles via private jet and finally found his forever home.
Wed, Nov 28 2012 at 4:38 PM
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Photo: 11Alive
An abandoned dog that waited three years for his owners to return has finally found a new home.
Chen the Chow was left behind when his owners deserted their Atlanta home, but he stuck around, sleeping in the carport and scavenging food scraps from a nearby grocery store.
Finally, after years of watching Chen wander the property, a neighbor told Lisa Renstrom of Chap’s Chow Rescue about the dog.
"He was waiting and waiting for his people to come home," Renstrom told 11 Alive News. "He absolutely would not leave that house. The people on either side would throw rocks and try to chase him away. He would not leave."
It took Renstrom a few weeks to gain Chen’s trust, but she won him over with kindness and food and took him to her dog rescue.
Healthy, happy and no longer alone, Chen was ready for his forever home, and Renstrom started looking. It didn’t take long.
Ben Rupp of Ohio saw Chen’s photo on Petfinder.com and felt a connection to the deserted dog. Chen reminded him of his Chow, Goldie, who had recently passed away after 13 years of companionship.
"His features are very similar to my old dog. The pictures and the story, it all came together,” Rupp told 11Alive.
Rupp called Renstrom and then booked a private jet and flew to Georgia, where Chen met him on the tarmac.
Although Renstrom had grown attached to Chen, she gave him a kiss goodbye and wished him well as he boarded the plane with Rupp.
"I hope he'll be happy," she said. "He deserves all the happiness."
Check out a video of Chen and his rescuers below:
More dog stories on MNN:
- Loyal Labrador known as 'Jurong's Hachiko' to be adopted
- Rescue dogs sniff out endangered species
- Shelter dog becomes a movie star
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I'm stunned at the lack of humanity in humanity.
Um...previous post: meant tough not touch
Awesome outcome! As for the original owners.........GO TO ____!
H/double hockey sticks!
I am glad this baby has a home and family again. I cannot understand anyone leaving a family member behind no matter how touch the circumstances! My heart breaks for those 3 long, lonely, confusing years.
unbelievable. And the neighbors stoned the dog. And the pup waited three years. Such a loyal pup and such horrible treatment. I'm so happy for him now. Which should have gotten help so much sooner.
Hallelujah for the rescue!
I just don’t understand how the neighbors didn’t contact someone as soon as they knew he was abandoned. Then threw stones at him? What the hell is wrong with people?
What 's wrong with the neighbors? Scum just like the prior owners..... horrible people.
I agree. First the people that left him are horrible people, I don't care their circumstances. Secondly, great that the person finally did something, but why wait 3 years?!?!?! 3 days is long enough, come on. And to watch idiots throw stones for 3 years. Come on people. Great ending to a horrible (all around) story.
Some people don't deserve oxygen.
I agree. Shame on those neighbors for throwing rocks instead of helping!
Animals are amazing!!
They are, all those rotten people should example from the dogs loyalty and unconditional love.
I wonder if anyone thought about trying to locate the people who moved and left Chen abandoned at their former residence. It's not as if they were unknown. They should be made to answer for what they did!
EXCELLENT POST!!!!! Thank you.
I will never understand how anyone can simply abandon an animal. Couldn't they have taken the time to at least take him to a shelter? I hope there's a big payback for them! And I hope that Chen will be able to adapt to his new home successfully.
WTF is wrong with people they should be penalized for their action.
That's what I thought, too! Why is it people aren't held responsible for their actions. They owned the dog...why not make arrangements for it if they couldn't keep it or take it with them? And why did the neighbors wait three years to do something for the dog? What's wrong with them? Throwing rocks at the animal!? What purpose does that serve. It wasn't the dog's fault it was abandoned...why didn't they take some responsibility in this situation?
AMEN!!!
I find it sad that it took three years for any kind hearted person to help out this dog. Shame on those rock throwing neighbors. And there are no words for people who let a dog into their lives only to abandon it when they leave town!
I love stories like this!!!!!! many blessings to the new owners!!! Chen the Chow is now big pimpin!!!! go Chen!
After all he has been through the lady who rescued him SHOULD have kept him! I am willing to be he will be returned as it did not work out! :(
What makes you think it did not work out with the man who adopted him?
I am sooo happy for Chen...I'm a big dog-lover and hated reading what had happened to Chen but it all came out good in the end...but 3yrs!!!!...the original owners need to be stoned to death..and the neighbors aren't much better!!!!
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